Reciprocatory driving mechanism



F 1951 -G. DEAKIN RECIPROCATORY DRIVING MECHANI SM '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1945 INVENTOR. GERALD DEAKIN Feb. 27, 1951 DEAKIN 2,542,997

I I RECIPROCATORY DRIVING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

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' INVENTOR.

- GERALD DEAKIN BY 1 ..v

. GEN 7' Feb. 27, 1951 G.,DEAKIN 2,542,997

RECIPROCATORY DRIVING MECHANISM I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1. 1945 INVENTOR. GERALD DEAKIN Patented Feb. 27, 1951 RECIPROCATORY DRIVING MECHANISM Gerald Deakin, New York, N. Y., assignor to'International Standard Electric Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 1, 1945, Serial No.'597,023

(Cl. i l-37) Claims. 1

This invention rel-ates to means for driving reciprocatory carriages such as brush carriages of selector switches, for example switches of this character used in automatic telephones as finder switches, group selectors, final connectors, marking switches or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a band drive for a reciprocatory carriage or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two direction band drive for a reciprocatory brush carriage or the like which is novel and advantageous in construction and operation, which is easy to assemble and economical to manufacture, and which will operate satisfactorily over long periods of service with a minimum of attention.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a reciprocatory carriage a two-band drive in which parallel runs of the two bands are con nected to the carriage and the bands are driven alternately and in opposite directions, each band being released at the end of an effective movement and returned to starting position by operation of the other band.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a reciprocatory carriage a drive comprising two bands connected to the carriage, one for each direction of carriage movement, and drivin means for said'bands actuating the same alternately to move the carriage accordingly, each band being freed at the end of a carriage stroke for return to starting position upon actuation by the other band.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide for a reciprocatory carriage a novel and advantageous drive which will operate with a minimum of noise.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a reciprocatory carriage a drive comprising two bands each having a run attached to the carriage for driving the carriage in opposite directions, coaxial pulleys driven in one direction each attached to one of said bands and of a size that substantially a half turn will move the carriage a full stroke in the corresponding direction, a driving member turned in one direction about the axis of said pulleys, and means operable at the end of a half turn of the driving member to disconnect it from one pulley and connect it to the other.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear upon consideration of the following detailed description and of the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section as seen from above, illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3A is a view illustrating the use of the clutch magnet;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig, 5;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 5 but showing the parts advanced somewhat beyond their positions in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 8 but showing the parts in slightly advanced positions.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, a brush carriage I is mounted to slide along two horizontal guides 2 and 3 held at their ends in frame members 4 and 5 which may form part of a frame or casing in which the brush carriage I is reciprocated. The casing may have a front 6 and a top I of suitable material. The brush carriage I carries brush means to cooperate with terminals 8 of a fiat terminal bank 9. ihe brush carriage proper will not be described further at this point inasmuch as it is described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 576,797, filed February 8, 1945, now Patent No. 2,502,438.

As illustrated, a main frame II] is designed to accommodate flat terminal banks 9 back to back. Accordingly said main frame In is formed in two generally similar parts II and I2 having corresponding flanges I3 and I4 spaced apart and secured together by suitable means such as screws I do passing through said flanges I3 and I4 and into vertical frame members I5.

Secured to one upright member I5 by suitable means such as one or more screws or bolts I6 is a supporting structure for important parts of the carriage drive. Rotatably supported by a bracket I1 is a rotatable assemblage I8 which may be driven by suitable clutch mechanism from a vertical shaft II! which in turn is motor driven in a manner that is well known in so-called rotary telephone exchange systems. Preferably the clutch mechanism is similar to clutch mechanism already in use and comprises a thin flexible gear 20 above the bracket I1 and secured to the rotary 3 assembly I 8 which serves the purpose of a stub shaft.

Mounted on shaft Hi to rotate therewith is a gear 2| in a position to mesh with flexible gear unless the gear 20 is flexed downwardly to break the connection. In order to provide for proper meshing of flexible gear 20 with gear 2|, the gear 2| may be provided with gear teeth at its lower face and a part overlying these teeth so as to assure proper meshing when the flexible gear is released from flexing. Otherwise the teeth of the flexed gear when released might at times move entirely past the teeth of the gear 2|.

The clutch may be controlled by a clutch magnet 22 (Fig. 3A) mounted on a part of the frame supporting the driving means just described. As

disclosed the magnet 22 is mounted horizontally and acts on an armature 23 pivoted at its lower part at 24. From the upper part of armature 23 an arm 25 extends over flexible gear 20 near the point where meshing with gear 2| occurs.

Said arm 25 is normally rendered efiectiv'e to maintain flexible gear 25 out of mesh with gear 2| by means of a spring 28 connected at its upper end to an adjustable member 2-1 and at its lower end to a pin 28 projecting laterally through a side of the magnet casing 29', from the end of an arm 30 fixed to the armature 23 near its pivot and extending in a direction opposite to that of the armature arm 25. When, however, the magnet 22 is energized, armature arm 25 will be lifted and flexible gear 25 will mesh with gear 2| tob'e driven thereby.

The rotatable assemblage it comprises a pulley stud 3| extending througha bracket bushing 32 in the bracket H and screwed into a hub 33 for the gear 20. Said hub 33 includes a lower flange on which the gear'20 rests and a hub proper extending through the central opening of the gear, relative turning movement therebetween being prevented by having part of the hub cut away to provide a flat 34 and the gear 20' formed with a central opening shaped to fit on the hub. Above the gear 29" is a washer 35 which is pressed down to grip gear 20 by'means ofnut36. At the bottom of the bracket is a nut 37 which prevents upward movement of. stud 3|.

Mounted on the threaded lower part of stud 3| is the hub 38 of an arm member 39 and the hub is caused to turn with said stud by means of a projection 40 entering a slot or keyway 4| in the stud and above and below said hubs are spacers 42 of cylindrical form with a flange at the top of the upper spacer and a flange at the bottom of the lower spacer. On opposite sides of the hub 38 are washers 43 which fit around the spacers and together with the fianges of the spacers 12 provide circular grooves receiving the annular hubs of an upper pulley 4 3 and a lower pulley 45.

A washer 46 is interposed between the upper spacer 42 and the nut 37 and a nut -Sl' is screwed on the lower end of stud 3| to hold the parts between it and the nut 3'! in proper relation to each other.

Eachof the pulleys 34 and is formed with a plurality of spokes 4S projecting from corresponding hubs 49 and carrying at their outer ends circumferentially groove-d rims 5d and 5| respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a band 52 secured to the rim of lower pulley 35 passes from opposite sides thereof between idle pulleys 53 and 54 and then in parallel runs on opposite sides of a pulley '55 near one side of the path of the selector carriage and around a pulley 56 at the far end of the carriage path. The front run of band 52 is secured to the upturned front end of a bracket 51 projecting forwardly from the selector carriage A similar band 58 secured to the rim of upper pulley 44 at 59a (Fig. 1) passes from opposite sides thereof between another set of idle pulleys 53 and 54' and then in parallel runs on opposite sides of another pulley and around another pulley 56. The rear run of band 58 is secured to a bracket 58 on the selector carriage l.

The bands 52 and 58 may be made of any suitable material but preferably are made of steel orbronze; about .0025 inch thick drilled at each end and in or near the middle for attachment to the brush carriage and pulleys by devices such as screws.

With the arrangement just described, positive turning of the pulley 45 in a clockwise direction as seen from above will cause the selector carriage i to move to the left (Fig. l) and the carriage acting through band 53 will turn the upper pulley i l in a counterclockwise direction. In a similar manner, clockwise movement of pulley 44 will cause selector carriage l to move to the right and pulley 45 to turn in a counterc1ockwise direction.

Both pulleys M and 45 are actuated one at a time by an arm 60 of which arm member 39 is a part. Said arm member is offset downwardly close to the hub 38 so as to leave a lug 6| in the plane of the hub to receive thereover one end of a helical compression spring 62 located partly in a slot 63 in the offset portion. The other end of spring t2 fits over a lug 8'4 at the inner end of an arm member 85 slidable between guides or lugs $5 projecting upwardly from the edges of arm member 39. The longitudinal movement of the member 65 is limited by a headed pin 6'! fixed in member 39 and passing through a slot 68 in member 65. The headed pin 61 also serves to hold member 65 down or arm member 39.

At its outer end member 65 is provided with means for connection with means on the inner sides of said rims 5G and 5| to operate the pulleys 44 and 45 alternately. For this purpose the outer end of member 55 is provided with two rollers 69 mounted on a vertical pivot 59a between two pivot supporting arms 10 secured to member 65 at the upper and lower faces thereof. Each pulley 34 and 45 is driven through substantially I' in driving selector carriage I from one end of its path to the other in the corresponding direction. Accordingly the points of disconnection from one pulley and connection with the other are, as indicated in Fig. 5, substantially apart.

In order for the shift rollers 59 to make connection with the pulleys M and 45, each of the corresponding rims is provided at the proper point along its inner surface with a connector member 1| having near its forward end when driven, a groove 12 to receive the corresponding roller 69 and establish a driving connection and at its rear a cam '63 with an inclined plane effect. At the left of Fig. 5, the parts are in the positions assumed at the end of a substantially 180 drive of the lower pulley 45 and during the change from connection with the lower pulley 45 to connection with the upper pulley 44. A fragmentary section or" the upper pulley is shown to make clear the relation between the members H on the two rims.

Fig. 5" illustrates the beginning of the transfer of connection, with one shift roller 69 being forced back by the cam on the upper rim and therefore raising the other roller out of the groove E2 on the lower pulley. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the parts at a later stage with the lower roller 69 lifted completely out of groove 12 on the lower connection member H, and the upper roller 59 ready to drop into the corresponding groove as it does immediately thereafter.

In order to prevent the bands 52 and 58 from slipping on the rims of the respective pulleys, each band is secured to its pulley at a point which is on the far side of the pulley from the brush carriage when the latter is substantially at the middle of its stroke.

In the operation of the device as just explained the operating arm 60 became connected with the lower pulley at the right hand position indicated in dotted'lines in Fig. 5. With the magnet 22 energized the flexible gear 20 meshes with gear 2| and the arm 60 will be swung around to the left hand position (Fig. 5). At the same time the selector carriage I will move from right to left (Fig. 1) until the brushes on the carriage move entirely off the selector bank and the brush-changing members 14 engage the lefthand abutment l5 and are forced back to their right hand positions. At this time the transfer of connections between the lower and upper pulleys takes place and the selector carriage I is moved to the right opposite the left hand terminals 8. At this time the clutch magnet 22 will be deenergized and the flexible disk clutch wil be disconnected. It should be understood that during a drive of either pulley clockwise the other pulley will be moved idly in the opposite direction.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9. there is shown a modified form of the invention in which there is an external shift, that is, the arm member 65a is forced inwardly at the desired point by means of a finger I6 projecting outwardly between the rims 5E! and 5| and having an inclined or cam end whereby, when this finger in its clockwise movement comes into engagement with a roller 11 on a fixed pivot, the arm member 65a will be forced back against spring 62 and a connecting pin 18 projecting therethrough will be moved out of a groove 19 in a connector 80 at the inner face of one pulley rim and as the finger rides over the roller H, apart of the pin at the other side of member 65a will enter a groove 19 in a connector 80 at the inner face of the other pulley which will be driven in a clockwise direction. The other parts of this modification are substantially like those described in connection with the first form.

In this second form of the invention the connectors 80 have no camming action and the rims are not subjected to camming stresses as in the first form. In Fig. 8, the transfer of the drive connection from the lower pulle 45 to the upper pulley is just beginning and in Fig. 9 the transfer has been completed and the connection between the arm 56a and the upper pulley 44 has been completed by movement of the connecting pin 18 into the groove 19 of the connector 80 on the rim of the upper pulley.

The band drive of the present invention provides a positive and dependabl means for controlling the position of a reciprocatory carriage or the like at all times. It should be noted that each band used in band drives according to the present invention, is securely attached both to the reciprocatory member and the drive member.

Although two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described for the purpose of illustration, modifications occuring to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, and means for reciprocating said carriage comprising two bands, freely rotatable means for supporting said bands, each band having a run extending along the carriage path and attached to the carriage, a pulley for each band around opposite sides of which the band portions from opposite ends of the carriage are brought and attached to the pulley, and means for alternately driving said pulleys always in the same direction of rotation through about to reciprocate the carriage.

2. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, and means for reciprocating said carriage including two draw-lines, freely rotatable means for supporting said draw-lines, each line having two runs extending along the path of the carriage and with one run of each draw-line attached to the carriage, two coaxial pulleys around opposite sides of which the respective draw-lines extend and are secured, and means for actuating said pulleys alternately including a drivin member between said pulleys and acting always in one direction, and means for connecting said driving member alternately to said pulleys.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the driving member is an arm rotatably mounted to swing about one end on the same axis as said pulleys, and the means for connecting the arm to the pulleys include an outwardly pressed member on said arm, one connecting member on each pulley to receive said outwardly pressed member, and means for shifting the connection from one pulley to the other at about each 180 movement of the arm.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the connecting member on each pulley has a groove to receive the outwardly pressed member, and the shifting means comprises a cam at the interior of the rim of each pulley to force back said outwardly pressed member and. transfer the connection from one pulley to the other.

5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the driving member is an arm rotatably mounted to swing about one end on the same axis as the pulleys and the means for connecting the arm to the pulleys alternately includes an outwardly pressed member on said arm; one connecting member on each pulley having a groove to receive said outwardly pressed member, and means for forcing back said outwardly pressed member and transferring said connection to the other pulley including a part projecting from said outwardly pressed member between the rims of said pulleys and a fixed member adapted to be engaged by said part of the outwardly pressed member and to force it back to cause transfer of the connection.

6. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage a unidirectional driving motor, a draw line drive for reciprocating said carriage,

comprising two separate bands attached to said carriage, and mechanical means comprising two coaxial pulleys attached to said bands, a rotating arm driven by the motor coaxial with said pulleys and rotatable in one direction, said arm being perpendicular to its axis of rotation, means including a spring urged member shiftable on said arm to engage the rim of either pulley, and means for shifting said spring urged member from one rim to the other at predetermined points in the relative rotation of said arm and pulleys.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the arm is mounted between said pulleys, and the means for shifting the springurged member comprises connecting-and-shifting means on the inner side of the rim of each of said pulleys including for each rim a connector having a groove to receive said spring-urged member and a cam to disconnect the springurged member from the other pulley and shift the connection.

8. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, and a band drive for reciprocating said carriage, rotatable means for supporting said bands beyond one limit of movement of said carriage, comprising two bands attached to the carriage, two coaxial pulleys for supporting said bands beyond the other limit of movement of said carriage, said pulleys having rims attached to said bands and each having at the inside of its rim a connector with a groove and a cam in advance of said groove, the connector on one pulley being 180 displaced from the connector on the other pulley at the ends of the carriage movement, a driving member between said pulleys and coaxial therewith, a member springurged outwardly on said driving member and provided with two coaxial rollers for connection with said grooves, an idle roller being engaged by the cam of the corresponding idle connector at the end of a carriage stroke to shift the connection to the associated groove.

9. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, and a band drive for reciprocating said carriage comprising two bands attached to the carriage, rotatable means for supporting said bands beyond one limit of movement of said carriage, two coaxial pulleys for supporting said bands beyond the other limit of movement of said carriage, said pulleys having rims attached to said bands and each pulley having at the inside of its rim a connector with a groove, said connectors being 180 displaced at the limits of the carriage movement, a driving member rotatable in one direction between said pulleys and coaxial therewith, a slidable member spring-urged outwardly on said driving member and having on opposite sides members to engage said grooves alternately, and means to cause transfer of connection from one pulley to the other including a member on said slidable member and a cooperating fixed member.

10. Circuit controlling apparatus comprising a switch carriage, driving means for said carriage, said driving means including a pair of pulleys, means connecting one of said pulleys to said carriage for driving inone direction, means connecting the other of said pulleys to said carriage for driving in the other direction, and means for energizing first one and then the other of said pulleys.

11. Circuit controlling apparatus, according to claim 10, in which the pulleys are rotatable in one direction when driving the carriage, and in the opposite direction when not driving.

12. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, a unidirectional driving motor, a draw line drive for reciprocating said carriage, said drive comprising two separate draw lines attached to the carriage for moving said carriage in opposite directions, mechanical means driven by said motor and comprising separate members attached to the respective draw lines, an outwardly pressed member operatively positioned to engage said separate members and means positively actuated by said motor for alternately shifting said outwardly pressed member to engage each of said separate members to reciprocate said carriage.

13. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein the draw lines are two bands each hav ing two runs one of which is attached to the carriage and means including the members is provided for mounting the bands so that the runs thereof may be attached to the carriage, the members being mounted for oscillatory motion and being attached to the band portions on opposite sides of the attachment to the carriage, whereby the means actuated by the motor for engaging said oscillatory members alternately move said draw lines in opposite directions to reciprocate the carriage and said carriage restores the oscillatory members when idle to their starting positions.

14. Reciprocatory apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, a unidirectional driving motor, a drive for reciprocating said carriage, said drive comprising two draw lines attached to the carriage to move it in opposite directions, and mechanical means comprising two oscillatory members attached to said draw lines, operating means driven by said motor and moving always in the same direction, and means for alternately disconnecting said operating means from one of said oscillatory members and connecting it to the other oscillatory member to reciprocate the carriage and cause the carriage to return each idle oscillatory member to its starting position during actuation of the other.

15. Circuit controlling apparatus comprising a reciprocatory carriage, a coupling arm mounted at one end for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said arm, means for driving said arm in a single direction, and means for intermittently converting the unidirectional rotation of said arm into linear motion of said carriage comprising a member mounted for coaxial rotation with said arm, means for causing intermittent engagement of said arm and member, and means for translating rotational movement of said member into linear movement of said carriage.

GERALD DEAKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

